After months of frustrated negotiations, and with just over 4 weeks to go till doors open, The Whitley Bay Film Festival have finally been given the go-ahead by the tortoise-like local authority to announce this year’s line up of films and programme of events, which this year includes themed screenings of the 1933 classic King Kong, inside the Spanish City Dome and John Carpenters, 1980 cult horror, The Fog at St Mary’s Lighthouse.

Last year The Northern Line, sponsored and supported the first Whitley Bay Film Festival, whose highlight was undoubtedly Jaws On The Beach, and this year, Primate Productions, the festival organisers look to pull off another master stroke with the announcement today, that they will actually be able to screen inside the Spanish City Dome.

Whitley Bay’s iconic Spanish City Dome, built in 1910, and adjacent theme park, was for many years a Mecca for holiday makers. The park closed in the 90’s, and since then The Dome has spiralled into dis-repair. The 2011 Whitley Bay Film Festival, however will see the much loved Dome being used for the final time by the public before it is handed over to developers.

As you’d expect from a film festival that promises “great films in great locations” there’s something for everyone and for all ages. Apart from eye catchers like King Kong and The Fog, which are sure to sell out fast, we also spotted other gems in the programme including a scooter rally, culminating in a screening of Quadrophenia at The Trojan Rooms, The Goonies at The Lighthouse and American Werewolf in London, (also in the Dome) We also noted that there are scheduled  screenings of Still Crazy and Flushed Away, of particular note as the screen writer for both was a certain Mr. Ian La Frenais, (Likely Lads/ Porridge/Auf Weidersehen Pet)  a Whitley Bay lad himself who last year agreed to be the festivals patron.

However I think it’s the The Dome that will steal the show this year, over 12,000 people queued to get inside at last Septembers Heritage Open Days and with numbers strictly limited to 150 people upstairs, there’s bound to be a clamour for seats. As well as Kong and American Werewolf, other Dome event screenings include; The Ladykillers, Dirty Dancing, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Forbidden Planet and Dracula.

You heard it here first folks!

More information regarding tickets, prices and times available from  WBFF Website and their Facebook Page.

By Dave on July 12, 2011